Malawi is expected to start fully taping electric power from neighboring, Mozambique and Zambia, by 2023, Minister of Energy, Newton Kambala said on Wednesday.
Kambala said this when touring Phombeya Substation in Balaka District which will act as a receiver of power from the two countries and a local distributing plant.
He said was impressed with progress of putting up the power substation and that the interconnection project(s) is at an advanced stage but government is pushing for more funding.
“We, already, are very advanced on interconnection with Zambia and Mozambique and most of the works done are getting ready to get these lines connected,” Kambala said.
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) Acting Director of Distribution, Masauko Mula, said the substation would ease power distribution in the country.
“There are several lines coming from power stations and going out of the station to other substations. So in that case, if one line is out due to a fault or is under maintenance, we can still transport that power,” Mula said.
He added that as the firm is transforming voltage capacity from 132 KV to 142 KV, it means losses could be reduced and more of electric power would be ferried to intended destination.
Phombeya substation was funded through Millennium Challenge Corporation under the $350.7 million-worth compact.
The Daily Times_July 24, 2020-Justin Mkweu